All Higher Concepts

Question 1

Acciaccatura

Answer 1

A short, quick notes before the main note

Question 2

Added 6th

Answer 2

a chord with the sixth note of the scale added. For example an A in the chord of C

Question 3

Augmentation

Answer 3

when a passage of music is repeated with no longer note values than the first time

Question 4

Basso Continuo

Answer 4

the group of instruments making the harmony/accompaniment in a Baroque piece of music. Organ and Harpsichord usually, but can also include cello, bassoon, lute or viola de gamba

Question 5

Chamber Music

Answer 5

a small scale composition for a small group of instruments, intended to be played to a small audience. Usually 3 - 8 musicians. Often piano and strings

Question 6

Coloratura

Answer 6

highly complex, decorative singing with lots of notes and ornaments. Mozart’s operas often

Question 7

Concerto Grosso

Answer 7

a type of composition consisting of Ripieno and Concertino. The aim to provide contrast

Question 8

Concertino

Answer 8

the smaller group of instruments in a Concerto Grosso

Question 9

Da Capo Aria

Answer 9

an aria in ternary form (A-B-A). The instruction ‘Da Capo, just means to go back to the start

Question 10

Diminution

Answer 10

the opposite of Augmentation, when a passage of music is played with shorter note values. Think ‘diminish’ - it gets smaller

Question 11

Diminished Triad

Answer 11

a diminished chord, where the 3rd and 5th notes are taken down a semitone

Question 12

Diminished 7th

Answer 12

a diminished chord as above but with an added 7th note. Often used in films for ‘terror effects’

Question 13

Dominant 7th

Answer 13

a normal major chord but with an added flattened 7th note (on the scale of this chord)

Question 14

Exposition

Answer 14

the first movement of a sonata form or fugue

Question 15

Harmonics

Answer 15

a technique for playing stringed instruments which involves holding down the string not fully but enough to make a different sound to an open strong. It has a characteristic high pitch, quiet tone

Question 16

Harmonic Minor (Scale)

Answer 16

the same notes when going up and down (see melodic minor scale)

Question 17

Impressionist

Answer 17

the music is trying to express an emotion, mood or feeling, such as sadness. Musical structures and forms and freer to allow the emotion of the music to be heard. Can be dreamy or romantic sounding

Question 18

Interrupted Cadence

Answer 18

the chords 5 to 6 (remember 6 is minor)

Question 19

Interval

Answer 19

the distance between two notes. To work out an interval, work out the letter names of each note, write them down. Take the first letter as ‘1’ then count up to the next letter - the number you land on is the interval

Question 20

Irregular Time Signatures

Answer 20

the time signature and number of beats in each bar changes frequently. You find it hard to get a feel for the music and it has a characteristic sound

Question 21

Jazz Funk

Answer 21

a 20th style of music which has an emphasis on drum kit and bass guitar, often including slap bass. Keyboards (including synthesiser) or piano can also feature heavily

Question 22

Lied

Answer 22

a German song, often with complex piano accompaniment. It is from the Romanic period

Question 23

Mass

Answer 23

a large scale work with an emphasis on singers, with soloists, SATB chorus and orchestra. It is sung in Latin and based on the six sections of liturgy: Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei (these words may often by in the music)

Question 24

Melodic Minor Scale

Answer 24

the notes are different depending on whether the scale is ascending or descending (see harmonic minor scale)

Question 25

Mode/Modal

Answer 25

a type of early scale developed and used in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. It sounds a bit off and unusual but is consistent. It is sometimes used today in modern music

Question 26

Mordent

Answer 26

an ornament with this pattern - the note, note above then the first note again. it is shown by a small squiggly line above the music

Question 27

Musique Concrète

Answer 27

a style origination from France where recorded sounds are used to make the composition. They could be anything from trains or other transport to animals. It has a very unique sound and you will recognise it straight away

Question 28

Obbligato

Answer 28

a prominent solo instrument in a piece of vocal music. It forms a distinctive sound and it is an important part of the music

Question 29

Oratorio

Answer 29

an operatic work based on stories from the bible

Question 30

Passacaglia

Answer 30

a slow Baroque dance with three beats in the bar. It will have a repeated bass pattern (ground bass) with changing upper parts. It will usually be in the minor key, but not always

Question 31

Plagal Cadence

Answer 31

when the chords are 4 to 1, the 'Amen' sound

Question 32

Plainchant

Answer 32

unaccompanied, religious vocal music. Unison and monophonic (the same note by all singers). Sung in lain

Question 33

Recitative

Answer 33

a way of singing in an opera which is half spoken, half sung. It follows the natural rhythm of speach

Question 34

Relative Major

Answer 34

a major key which has the same key signature as a minor key, for example C major has the same as A minor. The major is up 4 semitones from the minor

Question 35

Relative Minor

Answer 35

a minor key which has the same key signature as a major key. The minor is down 4 semitones

Question 36

Ripieno

Answer 36

the larger group in a Concerto Grosso, when all the instruments enter and the whole group plays

Question 37

Ritornello

Answer 37

a passage of music which returns frequently. It is a Baroque concept and refers to instrument music

Question 38

Sonata

Answer 38

an instrument work for solo piano and orchestra

Question 39

Sonata Form

Answer 39

an instrumental work with three sections - exposition, development and recapitulation

Question 40

Soul Music

Answer 40

a style of popular music originating in America from the 1960s, where the singer often expresses emotions through the lyrics and style of singing

Question 41

String Quartet

Answer 41

a group of four stringed instruments - two violins, viola and cello

Question 42

Subject

Answer 42

the opening tune in a piece of music, usually from the baroque period

Question 43

3 against 2

Answer 43

triplets and quavers playing at the same time - sounds very odd

Question 44

Tierce De Picardie

Answer 44

when a piece of music is major and ends on a minor chord, or a piece of music is minor and ends on a major chord

Question 45

Time Changes

Answer 45

the time signature change suddenly in the music. You will notice feel of the music change

Question 46

Through-Composed

Answer 46

a term used to describe a song which has no repetition of musical material

Question 47

Tremolando

Answer 47

short, rapid repetition of a note to create tension or suspense

Question 48

Triplets

Answer 48

three notes are played where two notes would normally be. Think 'straw-be-rry' vs 'quaver'